Davidson speaks out on abuse claims

Jim Davidson has said he thinks people were "making allegations for the sake of it" after he was told he will face no further action in the UK after he was arrested on suspicion of historic sexual offences.

The 59-year-old comedian was held in January by detectives from Operation Yewtree, the national investigation sparked by the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, and re-arrested in March after further allegations emerged.

He has now been told he will face no further action in this country, and one remaining claim has been referred to an authority outside the UK.

He told ITV News: "I'm just pleased there'll be no further action."

He added: "All I know is allegations were made against me and I literally helped the police with their inquiries. I kept on working because I was innocent and that's what I believed from the beginning."

And he said: "Allegations are allegations. Anyone can make an allegation and I think the public were slightly aware that people were making allegations for the sake of it."

His solicitor Henri Brandman of Henri Brandman and Co solicitors said: "My client Jim Davidson was, of course, arrested a number of months ago in respect of allegations of an historical sexual nature. He is pleased to have received news that there will be no further action relating to the allegations."

Davidson has consistently denied the allegations against him, which were said to involve a number of women, and one claim that dated back 35 years.

The allegations had no connection to disgraced television presenter Savile, and Davidson previously said all the alleged victims were adults at the time of the claims.

He and a 53-year-old man who was also arrested in January were released from bail and told they will face no further action.

A Scotland Yard spokesman did not name the performer, but said: "There remains one outstanding allegation originally referred to Operation Yewtree that falls outside UK jurisdiction which has been referred to the relevant authority."

Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence in relation to 10 allegations, one of which related to both men, and nine others that were made against Davidson.